Our Group: Starting Strong

Shabina Lakhani

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Our Group: Building Our Foundation

Students will understand the purpose of group counseling, establish group norms, and begin to build a safe and trusting environment.

This lesson is important for setting a positive tone and clear expectations for group counseling, ensuring all students feel respected and safe to participate.

Audience

9th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion and activity.

Materials

Our Group: Welcome Slide Deck (#welcome-group-slide-deck), Group Connection Quick Share Warm-Up (#group-connection-quick-share), Creating Our Group Norms Activity (#creating-group-norms), and My Group Hopes Cool Down (#my-group-hopes)

Prep

Review Materials

10 minutes

Review the Our Group: Welcome Slide Deck, Group Connection Quick Share Warm-Up, Creating Our Group Norms Activity, and My Group Hopes Cool Down. Prepare a whiteboard or large paper for writing down group norms.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Group Connection Quick Share

5 minutes

Begin with the Group Connection Quick Share Warm-Up to help students think about positive group experiences and foster initial connections. Introduce yourself and briefly explain the day's agenda.

Step 2

Introduction to Group Counseling

10 minutes

Use the Our Group: Welcome Slide Deck to introduce the purpose and benefits of group counseling. Emphasize key concepts like confidentiality, respect, and active listening. Facilitate a brief discussion using questions from the slide deck.

Step 3

Establishing Group Norms

10 minutes

Lead the Creating Our Group Norms Activity. Guide students to brainstorm and collectively establish 3-5 key norms for the group. Write these norms clearly on a whiteboard or large paper for future reference. Encourage participation from all students.

Step 4

Wrap-Up and Expectations

5 minutes

Briefly review the established group norms and reiterate the importance of adhering to them. Introduce the My Group Hopes Cool Down as an exit ticket, asking students to reflect on one hope or goal they have for the group counseling sessions. Collect these responses to inform future sessions.

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Slide Deck

Welcome to Our Group!

Creating a Safe Space Together

A place to share, learn, and grow.
Confidentiality: What we share here, stays here.
Respect: Listen to others, even if you don't agree.
Support: We are here for each other.

Welcome students to the session. Introduce yourself and the purpose of the group briefly.

What is Group Counseling?

It's a team effort!

Safe Space: A place where you can be yourself.
Sharing & Listening: Opportunity to talk and hear from others.
Support: Get advice and encouragement from peers and the counselor.
Growth: Learn new ways to handle challenges and understand yourself better.

Explain what group counseling is in simple terms. Emphasize that it's a supportive environment, not a lecture.

Why Are We Here?

Common Reasons for Joining:

Learning new coping skills.
Improving communication.
Building self-esteem.
Dealing with stress or anxiety.
Connecting with others who understand.
Personal growth and development.

Discuss why students might be in group counseling, without making assumptions. Focus on common themes like managing stress, building skills, etc.

Our Group, Our Rules!

Setting the Stage for Success

What helps a group work well?
How can we make sure everyone feels safe and heard?
What behaviors will help us grow together?
Let's create our own 'rules of the road'!

Transition to the idea of group norms. Explain that these are rules or agreements the group makes together to ensure everyone feels safe and respected.

Looking Ahead

What to Expect Next:

More opportunities to share and connect.
Activities and discussions on topics important to you.
A journey of self-discovery and support.

Questions?

Conclude by reiterating the positive aspects of the group and what to expect next. Encourage questions.

Warm Up

Activity

Creating Our Group Norms

Goal: To establish shared agreements that make our group a safe, respectful, and productive space for everyone.

Step 1: Brainstorm Ideas (5 minutes)

Think about what makes a good group. What behaviors, rules, or agreements would help everyone feel comfortable, heard, and able to participate fully? Consider these questions:

What should we do to show respect for each other?
How can we ensure everyone gets a chance to speak?
What about keeping what we share private?
How should we handle disagreements or different opinions?
What will help us focus and be present?

Write down at least 2-3 ideas for group norms below:

Step 2: Share and Discuss (5 minutes)

Share your ideas with the group. As a group, discuss why each norm is important.
Look for common themes and combine similar ideas.

Step 3: Finalize Our Norms (5 minutes)

As a group, decide on 3-5 core norms that everyone agrees to follow.
These will be our collective commitments to each other for every session. Once agreed upon, we can write them on a chart paper or whiteboard for all to see in future sessions.

Cool Down

My Group Hopes

Instructions: Please respond to the prompt below. Your honest thoughts will help make our group the best it can be.

Prompt: What is one hope or goal you have for our group counseling sessions? It could be something you want to learn, how you want to feel, or something you want to achieve through being part of this group.